Compressed-air-filtering apparatus



' R. H. CAZIER'AND w.. H.- HECKEH.

COMPRESSED AIR FILTERING APPARATUS. APPLmATjloN m50 SEPT. 17'. 1-921.

Patented Sept. 19?, 1922.

Lnvenors Patented Sept. I9, M922.

met rare PERRY H. CAZIER AND WILLIAM H. HECKER, 0F NASHVILLE, MICHIGAN.

COMPRESSED-AIR-FILTERING APPARATUS.

Application le September 17, 1921. Serial No. 501,333.

To all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that we, PERRY H. CAzmR and WILLIAM I-I. I-IECKER, citizensof the United States of America, residing at Nashville, in the county ofBarry and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Compressed-Air- Filtering Apparatus; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in removing moisture, oiland the vlike from compressed air. In compressing air, the moisturewhich is carried as water vapor inthe air is condensed, and thelubricant lfrom the compressor used is more or less carried into thecompressed air. Under compression the. moisture condenses to water andgoes from the tank or other container of compressedair when the same istaken for use. In the use of the air for, operating air sprayers orbrushes for the application of varnish, shellac or other like coatingsto articles of furniture, the water coming from thesprayer nozzle withthe varnish or the like causes a roughening of the grain of the wood andis otherwise detrimental for the proper finish and application of thecoating. In fact von days when the humidity of the atmosphere is high,it is almost if not quite impossible to operate the spraying apparatusby means of compressed air due to thehigh percentage of water therein.The lubricating oil is also a source of trouble to a lesser degree. Inmany other ways where cornpressed air is used, the water therein 'is asource of trouble and annoyance.

Our invention is directed to a very simple yet effective constructionwhereby the water is wholly removed from the air, or` at least to adegree where it is not of consequence, and at the same time otherundesirable ingredients are likewise removed, such as lubricating oilfrom the compressing machine. And it is a primary object and purpose ofthe invention to make an apparat-us which is practical and eflicient,durable and economical in manufacture and maintenance for the attainmentof the end set forth, and as will appear as understanding of theinvention is had from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, inwhich, i 4 Y Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, with parts broken away andin section, of the apparatus, and

Fig. 2 1s a fragmentary vertical section through the filterholding'portion of the apparatus, showing the method of introducino thefiltering material therein.

Iiike reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawing.

In the construction, the pipe 1 leads from any tank or other reservoirof compressed air and comiects into the upper end of a T-coupling. withthe T 2 in one side thereof and at its opposite end leads int-o a valvecasing t, the valve in which may be opened or closed by operation of thehand wheel 5. A vertical pipe 6 leads downwardly from the valve casing4L, being connected by a union 7 with a second vertical pipe 8 in directalinement with the pipe 6, an elbow 9 being secured at the lower end ofpipe 8 for connection thereof to a second horizontal pipe 10 which leadsinto a lateral neck 11 in the side of a secondl T-coupling 12. A reducerbushing 13 threads into the lower end of the 'l' 12 and a short nipple14 connects therewith, at its lower end leading into a valve casing 15,the valve in which is operated Vto open or closed position by hand wheel16. An outlet pipe 17 leads downwardly from the valve casing 15.

A. tube 1'8 has threaded connection into the upper end of T 12, at itsupper end being equipped with a reducer 19 for connection of a nipple 2Otherewith, to the upper end of which a third T-couplig 21 is attached. Ashort connecting nipple 22 connects the upper end of T 22 with a valvecasing 23, the valvein which is operated to open or closed position byhand wheel 24. The upper end of the valve casing 23 is connected withthe lower end of 'I 2 by anipple 25, as shown.

From the T 21, a. short nipple 26 projects laterally and connects with avalve casing 27, the valve position in which is controlled by hand wheel28. A pipe 29 leads away from the casing 27 to the nozzle or sprayerwhich is to be actuated by compressed air, not losing` shown in thedrawing as it forms no part of the present invention. rIhe tube 1S is ofrelatively large diameter compared with the diameters of the other pipesin the construction and is adapted to be filled with any suitablevabsorbing` and filtering material. Wehave usedk absorbent cotton Ahorizontal pipe 3 connects and the same has proved vparticularly satisvand the tube then drawn downwardy over y the lunoer thereb leavino' thecotton in lo b y 2:

y the tube 18, as is evident.

Inoperation, the valves in casings 23 and 15Vare closed and those incasings 4 and 27 are opened. The compressed air coming through pipe 1passes through pipes 3, 6, 7

and 10, and upwaridlytlirough the cotton 18, passing outwardly throughpipe 29 for use. f ln passing through the absorbent cotton, the waterand any lubricating oil, in the air is retained and abs'orljoed,I so.that the airpassing outwardly through pipe29 is dry. ln the course 'oftime, the cotton be;

comes saturated, lwhereupon valves in cas.- ings 4 and 27are closed andthose in casings 15 and 23 yare opened, thereby making a direct downwardpassage for the` air through the cotton 82 and `outwardly through theoutlet pipe 17, the water'carried by the cotton being blown outwardlythrough the `outlet pipe 17 as is evident.- l, ln this way it ispossible to alternately s iaturate .the cotton andthen blow and, dry itout, replacing the cotton at intervals when it has more or less lost itsabsorbent qualities.

This construction has been in practical use and has proved an effectivebarl against the passage of water in the compressed. air

`out at thel outlet pipe 29, ywhereby the air may be used in practicallyany and all places' where compressed air is used for spraying or otherlike operations, such as operating a sand blast or the like. rllheappended claims define the invention and we consider ourselvesasentitled to all forms of structure coming within the QVe claim: n, l,

`1. Anh apparatus of the yclass described, comprising a vertically'positioned container, absorbent material lfor collecting moisture scopethereof.

.and lubricant from compressed passed vvtherethrough, means for.carrying compressed ail? to the lower end, oftheI container,A means toclose said, airv carrying means against the passage of air, said lastnamed means being normally open, a normally Iopen outlet to thecontainerat its upper end, means kto close Vsaid outlet,1"a normallyclosed outlet to the lower end oik the container', means-for openingsaidoutlet, and a normally closed conduit for carrying compressed air intothe upper end of the container combined with means for opening saidconduit, substantially as and 'for the purposes described.

2. An apparatus ot the classfdescribed, comprising-a relatively large4vertically po, sitioned tubular container, absorbent ,fmfaterialtherein, an inlet .tothe ri'ippelQend of vthe, container, anormallyfopen bnanoh Y lpipe leading to one side-from said inlet, a 80manually operable valve in said branchl pipe, a second manually operableVvalve` aty the .upper eiidand connected with-'said inlet and directlyconnected to a compresseda'ir cariy- Y ing pipe, a'laterallyextendingwconduit for 85 4compressedllair leading vfrom the pipeto 'theflowerendfoi the container, saidvconduit havto the 'lower end ofthe-ycontainer between the absorbentmaterial and the flower eutlet, means foropening orfclo'sing said .eon duit,a 4, second. conduit for carrying,compressedfair'j into the upper .endoi' the' container, and v105 meansfor opening or y closing .said `,conduit, substantially as and yfor thepurposes described... i 1

v 4.y An., apparatus of .the i class comprising a vertically positionedtubular container,` a l'-coupling' attached yto thelower end thereof,areducer bushing inthe'lower end:y oit' the` coupling, aconduit having'aA manually operable valve i thereiny connected with the bushing landleading to, the, outside,

c a conduit.for-'compressed nair,,leading-"to the T-coupliiig, lsaidlast namedfconduit vhaving al manuallybperable valve therein, a thirdconduit connectingzthe second `conduit with 'y the upper end of thecontainer andhaving 120 awmanually operable valve therein beWen thecontainer` and thesecond 'conduit` a. branch conduitleading'fromtlie'third cony Y duit between fthecontainer and the valve. in the thirdconduit andA likewise havinga manually operable valve. therein, and'absorbent material jlling the container.

5. An apparatus lof the class described, comprising a verticallypositiiiedcontainer, f absorbentA material therein peii'iiitting the 130passage of compressed air therethrough and absorbing moisture andlubricant from the air on passage7 means for carrying compressed air tothe lower end of the con- 5 tainer, means for carrying compressed air tothe upper end of the container7 an outlet to each end of the container,means for independently opening or closing either outlet,

and means in each of said air carrying means for independently openingor closing the 10 same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

PERRY H. oAZrER. WILLIAM H. HECKER.

